Missing teeth actually affect far more than just your cosmetic smile. While you can feel a little self-conscious about the gap in your teeth, there are some underlying health implications to losing and not replacing a missing tooth. Having implants to fill these gaps, however, could greatly benefit your dental health. Intrigued to find out more? Well, here at Blossom Dental Care in York, we show you just what the range of benefits associated with dental implants have.

Help prevent gum disease

When you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, areas of your gums that were previously hidden or occupied are now left vulnerable. They’re exposed to the elements, those elements being bacteria, food debris and saliva. Bacteria and food debris can nestle in the newly opened gaps, primarily at the bottom of your teeth that connect with gums and can be hard to reach when brushing. These bacteria can cause the onset of gum disease, which sees the gums becoming swollen, red, puffy, sensitive and even blooded at times. You could even risk losing another tooth if the gum disease itself is left untreated and spreads to the neighbouring teeth which is not what you want to happen. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant, or multiple gaps with dental implants, helps to keep these exposed areas covered, protecting your soft tissue.

Help prevent decay and cavities

Missing teeth don’t just leave your gums exposed; however, they also expose the sides of your neighbouring teeth that would previously be covered by the missing tooth. Food debris, bacteria, and plaque can build up around the walls of your neighbour in areas that are difficult to clean. When left alone, bacteria will eat away at your protective enamel and create decay and cavities. This may lead to the need for further dental treatments, such as root canals, or even threaten the integrity of the tooth. Replacing missing teeth with dental implants therefore seals off the neighbouring teeth walls from as much bacteria exposure, helping to keep them free from cavities.

Stop your teeth from drifting

When a new gap opens, your teeth don’t always play by the rules. Your teeth apply constant pressure to each other, letting one another know where they sit in the jaw. Losing a tooth means that your teeth neighbouring the gap could drift out of alignment because they are no longer being kept in check. The new irregularity in your teeth has the potential to cause bite issues, difficulty eating, and even jaw pain should it sway your alignment.

Protect the health and strength of your jawbone

Your teeth and your jawbone enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship. Each tooth has a root that feeds into the jawbone and lets the bone know that the tooth is still very much alive and in place. Your jawbone then remains strong and functional to support this tooth, and vice versa. However, losing a tooth will cause the root to die and the jawbone to stop receiving signals from that area. This leads to the jawbone to stop receiving the signals from the particular area. This leads to the jawbone weakening because it is not strictly needed underneath that too that anymore, threatening the surrounding bone and risking further disruption to the healthy teeth.

Dental implants in York don’t just save your smile, but they can do a world of good for your continued dental health too. Get in touch with us here at Blossom Dental Care to book your appointment today.